FAQ’s

We have put together a list of frequently asked questions (with answers) to give you as much information as you need to get the best from your holiday. If it’s not here, just ask!

Can we book with confidence?

Yes, we are members of HHA, the Holiday Home Association, which means we operate by their Code of Practice.  In the unlikely event of a complaint that cannot be resolved with us, you can use the HHA Dispute Resolution Service

We advertise on many listing sites, but if you view our Independent Cottages listing, you can see that we have been there since 2010, which is when we listed our first property on the site.

We ask all our guests for feedback and you can find independent reviews of all the properties on Trip Advisor.
Beachscape Trip Advisor reviews
Bramble Cottage Trip Advisor reviews
Cromer Flint Cottage Trip Advisor reviews
Tides Trip Advisor reviews

Previously we used Rated Places, a website used by real visitors to recommend places to stay in the UK, but sadly the website is no longer being updated. Tides reviews are also here.

We are very active on Social Media, so you can check that we are real people by following our footsteps through the many platforms available to us. There are links to facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest on the top right hand sidebar where you can read more. At the bottom of each page is a feed for facebook and Twitter.

How much is the deposit and when is the final payment due?

We ask for a deposit of 25% or £100 minimum when you make your booking. The exact amount will be stated in our correspondence with you, so no mental maths required. If this is less than two calendar months before the start of your holiday, then the full amount will be payable. We send an email reminder when the balance is due, so you don’t have to rely on your memory.

What payment methods can we use?

We prefer payment direct to our bank, simply because it is quick and efficient for you and the owners. We can also accept payments via Pingit, and via Paym for all properties except Bramble Cottage.   You can also pay by the deposit by debit or credit card. Just ask and we email you an invoice, from which you click through to a secure payment page. We prefer you not to pay the balance by card if possible to save us the fees but it’s still possible if that’s your preference. If you prefer to pay by cheque that’s fine, but we ask that you send it within 24 hours by first class post, to enable your booking to be secured.   We are currently unable to accept credit or debit card payments over the phone.

How do we book?

Fill out the online contact form in the first instance with the required details. Please state that you wish to book and we will send you a link to our booking form along with the terms and conditions. Once that form is filled in and the deposit or full balance paid, according to the date of your holiday, then your booking is confirmed.

Do you take a damage deposit?

We do not take a damage deposit although we reserve the right to charge this in certain circumstances. We therefore ask that you respect the trust we place in you to look after the properties and the facilities whilst there. By making a booking you agree to accept responsibility for any damage that may be caused by you or any member of your party and you agree to indemnify us in full for any losses that we may incur as a result.  We don’t mind the odd broken glass, but in the event that you do notice damage or items missing in the accommodation please let us know immediately so that we can rectify matters for the next set of guests. The accommodation will be inspected at the end of your holiday and you may be charged for any loss or damage found.

Do I need holiday insurance?

It’s not obligatory in order to book with us, but we do recommend it. A low cost UK single trip policy is available from many online providers. Our cancellation terms are clearly displayed in our terms and conditions and we can provide necessary proof to your insurers should you need to cancel your holiday.

What’s included in your prices?

Our rental rates cover the whole of the property and include bedlinen, electricity, gas or oil for hot water and heating, and the end of stay clean. The only extras are the dog charge which is just £15 for each break. That is per break and not per dog.

What are the arrival and departure times?

Please check each property for the specific times as they vary slightly. For Beachscape and Tides, you can arrive anytime after 3pm, including late evening, and departure is before 10am, to allow ample time for the property to be serviced between lets.  Bramble Cottage and Cromer Flint Cottage have an arrival time of after 4pm and depart by 10am. As we are not onsite, there is no meet and greet; you will be given full instructions of how to gain entry approx one to two weeks before your arrival date.

Are your properties suitable for disabled guests?

Beachscape and Tides are on one level with parking nearby which can suit less mobile guests.  However there are no specific disability aids such as grab rails installed and the doors from the open plan lounge are narrow, so not necessarily suitable for wheelchairs.  Bramble Cottage is slightly split level with a step down to the lounge from the kitchen and then a step back up to the hallway. The driveway is gravel with two parking spaces immediately outside. Cromer Flint Cottage has traditional Norfolk winder stairs which are steeper than standard stairs and therefore this property is not suitable for the less mobile. Please check our cottage accessibility page for more information and useful links.

Are your properties suitable for children?

Absolutely! Beachscape and Tides both have an open plan living room, leading to the bedrooms and bathroom. We provide a travel cot if required, just ensure you request this in advance. There is some plastic cutlery and crockery for eating with. The decked area can be secured with a gate so that littlies can be outside but not out of sight.  There is a storage box on the decking with some beach and outside toys in and of course the beach is just yards away! There is a large open green area that’s suitable for children to play on, they just need reminding that cars do drive past between the green and the properties. The speed limit is 5mph on site though. Bramble Cottage has a range of games and books and a secure paved garden to play in.
Cromer Flint Cottage has plastic crockery and cutlery, some indoor games and a range of outdoor/beach toys in the storage box in the garden.
All the properties have excellent children’s playgrounds nearby.

Are your properties suitable for dogs?

Of course. Your dog is as much a member of the family as any human, so we’ve done our best to make the properties suitable for both human and doggie guests.  There’s a doggie treat welcoming them at every property. There is a water bowl and spare poo bags available too. We do ask that you bring your dogs bed or cage and keep them off the furniture.  The decked terraces at Beachscape and Tides have a gate so you can leave your dog safely in an enclosed outside area. A very small dog might be able to get through the spindles and a very large dog might be able to jump over the balustrade, but we’ve never lost a dog yet to our knowledge!  Bramble Cottage has an enclosed courtyard garden with a mix of paving and flower beds, hedges and fencing.  Cromer Flint Cottage has a secure paved courtyard garden with high fencing. There is an all year round dog friendly beach near all the properties, and there’s always a nearby local pub and cafe that are dog friendly too. Read more about dog friendly Norfolk on our dog info pages

What about internet access and phones?

Wi-fi is now available in all our properties, so you can check your emails, the tide times, or plan your days out whilst here, juts bring your devices to log on. Most of the properties have a good fibre connection but we can take no responsibility for the availability of the service.  There are libraries and many eating places that have internet access too.  There is no landline telephone at the properties. There is an onsite park office at Rainbows End Park, but it’s only open at very limited times. Some of the owners on the park have a landline and are very friendly if you need help whilst on site! Mobile signal can be patchy as this is very rural England. No single provider seems to be better than another.  At Bramble Cottage you may well need to step outside to receive signal.

Can we sit outside?

Beachscape and Tides have their own decked terrace with a patio table and chairs. You can sit here and enjoy the morning sun whilst eating breakfast. The sun moves round to the back of the properties for the end of the day, so you are welcome to take the chairs round the back if you want to enjoy the evening sun with a glass of wine perhaps? Alternatively there are picnic benches dotted around the park that you are welcome to use. Bramble Cottage and Cromer Flint Cottage have private courtyard gardens with patio table and chairs.

Is smoking permitted and can we bring a disposable barbecue?

Smoking inside any of the properties is not permitted but you may do so outside. Please ensure the door and windows are shut or the smell travels inside and spoils the enjoyment of the property for the next guests. If you do smoke please be careful to extinguish cigarettes carefully. We do not encourage the use of disposable barbecues at any of the properties. Following several fires at lodges and chalet parks, and a very near miss at one of our own chalets, we advise that disposable barbecues must not be used at all at the two Rainbows End Park properties, Beachscape and Tides. If you wish to barbecue on the beach, please ensure you do not place it on the sand, instead place it on stones or a hard surface. A recent incident involved a child gaining severe burns from stepping on hot sand many hours after a barbecue had been moved from the spot. You just cannot be too careful with barbecues and we’d hate for an accident to happen to any of our guests or properties whilst on holiday with us. 

Where do we park our car?

Beachscape and Tides have a designated car parking space just a few yards away in sight of the property.  You can park immediately outside the properties for loading and unloading, but we ask that you then park the car in the space to keep the park uncluttered for all the park guests. If you have more than one car, or a daytime visitor, then there are a few visitor spaces dotted around the park.
Bramble Cottage has two parking spaces off a shared gravel driveway.
Cromer Flint Cottage has nearby free street parking; you can load and unload right outside the cottage in the private lane. You’ll find more details on the cottage page.

What facilities are there at Rainbows End Park?

In a nutshell none! Come to Rainbows End to relax and enjoy the coastline on your doorstep. If you want swimming pools and clubhouses then there are plenty of other suitable parks in Norfolk. However, there is a small swimming pool in Bacton that you can hire and of course there are plenty of nearby pubs. There is an onsite office manned by park staff during daytime hours only.

What public transport is there?

The nearest train station to the Bacton and Happisburgh properties is North Walsham, in Cromer the station is just a two minute walk from Cromer Flint Cottage and this line connects to Norwich. Check the Greater Anglia site for more information or view a map of all routes here. You can get a taxi from North Walsham station to Bacton or Happisburgh. There is very limited bus service running on Mondays to Fridays between North Walsham and Bacton; click here for the timetable by Sanders Coaches. Cromer is very well supplied with bus services and the bus station is just a short walk from the cottage. See all bus routes here.

Where are the nearest shops to the properties?

Beachscape and Tides are in Bacton where there is a great general store, called Bacton Superstores, which stocks all the essentials, including milk, newspapers and is also an off licence. You would find everything you need for a short stay here.  Happisburgh has a small village shop. There are supermarkets at all the nearby towns, which are North Walsham, Stalham and Cromer. You’ll find more details on each cottage page under location.

Can we arrange a supermarket delivery?

To the best of our knowledge, Tesco and Sainsburys offer delivery to our area. The postcode is NR12 0HN for Beachscape and Tides, NR12 0QZ for Bramble Cottage, and NR27 0ED for Cromer Flint Cottage if you want to check with any of the supermarkets prior to your stay with us.

Where can we eat if we don’t want to cook?

We are spoilt for choice considering how rural the area some of the properties are in.  In Bacton there are several cafes, a pub, and Chinese restaurant for eating out in the village and the Chinese or local fish and chip shop do great takeaways.  Happisburgh has a traditional pub and a cafe. Alternatively a short drive gives you even more choice. In Cromer you are simply spoilt for choice with everything you could possibly want on your doorstep.  See the Dining Out page for lots more places to eat locally.

We’d like to enjoy the local seafood, so where would we go?

You’ll find good seafood at many cafes and restaurants along the coast; they may not be speciality seafood places but with the famous Cromer Crab on our doorstep, it’s available in many places during the season.  Again the Dining Out page has a section for seafood.

We have an electric car. Can we charge it at any of the properties?

Unfortunately none of the properties have suitable charging sockets that have been certified as safe to use to charge a vehicle. However, the public charging points are being added to all the time, so you can check for the nearest ones using the Zap Map or Plugshare map.  At the time of writing in 2021, the nearest rapid charging points to the properties can be found at:
Tesco Superstore, Aylsham
Morrisons, Cromer
Kelly Clarke Motor Services, North Walsham
The Old Rectory Hotel, Crostwick, Norwich
There are numerous other fast charging points within half an hour of the properties.